Deep Thoughts With Michelle Handy
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy is where behavioral science, tech, and design converge to inspire personal growth and drive innovation. Join Michelle Handy, Ph.D. and her expert guests as they unpack candid stories, share practical insights, and explore cutting-edge strategies to help you thrive personally and professionally. Perfect for mid-to-senior professionals navigating leadership, creativity, and career transitions.
Episodes
Before Season 2 launches this fall, I’m planning something a little different: a special Q&A episode.
And I’d love to include your voice in it.
If you’ve ever had a question about:
– Perfectionism or impostor syndrome
– Being the only behavioral scientist on your team
– Career transitions, whether you’re leaving academia or just feeling stuck
– Or even how to make behavioral science land in ...
What makes a space feel right? Why do certain environments help us thrive while others drain our energy? And how does our intuition—not just logic—guide us in career transitions?
In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Beams, founder of Highstone & Co., to explore the psychology of home design, career decision-making, and the courage to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Stephanie started her career in New Yor...
What does it mean to stay human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence?
In this episode, I’m joined by Nick Smallman, founder and CEO of Working Voices, whose decades of work with global organizations (JP Morgan, Sony, Barclays, Goldman Sachs) has focused on improving leadership, communication, and engagement in times of profound change.
Now, he’s turning his attention to the individual. His forthcomi...
Gamification isn’t just about badges and points—it’s about designing systems that make difficult behaviors feel doable, even fun. In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, we’re joined by Dr. Jacqui Nortje, a behavioral scientist and gamification expert based in Johannesburg, South Africa. With over a decade of experience in South Africa’s wellness and financial services industries, Jacqui blends academic ...
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, we explore what it means to build truly intergenerational workplaces with Dr. Daniel Jolles, a Workplace Behavioral Psychologist and Postdoctoral Researcher at The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics. Daniel’s research focuses on workplace aging, generational collaboration, and how to rethink career longevity in an era of rapid technological and ...
Social health is just as essential as physical and mental health—so why do we often neglect it? In this episode, Dr. Iain Smith joins Michelle Handy to explore the science of social connection and its impact on well-being, longevity, and workplace culture. As the Head of Behavioral Science at Sunny, Dr. Smith has spent years studying how relationships shape our lives and how we can create healthier, more connected wor...
In this episode, we explore what it means to leave academia and build a fulfilling career outside the ivory tower. Ashley Ruba, PhD, shares her journey from developmental psychology to UX research at Meta and entrepreneurship, founding After Academia to help PhDs navigate their own transitions. From overcoming identity challenges to discovering exciting opportunities in industry, Ashley’s insights are invaluable for a...
In this episode, we delve into the intersection of behavioral science, leadership, and workplace well-being with Dr. Mandy Varley, a behavioral scientist and executive coach. She shares her insights on building healthier, more effective workplaces and rethinking traditional metrics of success.
Highlights
- How the rise of AI is forcing us to rethink what we expect from humans at work
- Why treating workplace burnout as a...
In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how women are shaping the future of behavior design—from scaling impact in organizations to building powerful professional communities. Stephanie Weldy shares her journey from the public sector to Chief of Staff to Dr. BJ Fogg, her role as co-founder of WEB (Womxn Engaged in Behavior), and how behavior design principles are transforming industries.
Episode Highl...
In this episode, we explore what it takes to build truly human-centered organizations with Doug Roerden, who brings over 25 years of experience leading customer and user experience transformations. From Fidelity Investments to FM Global, Doug shares insights on organizational change, stakeholder management, and the evolution of experience design.
Episode Highlights
- Transforming traditional organizations into hu...
In this episode, we explore how behavioral science and lifestyle medicine are transforming healthcare delivery. Dr. Leanne Mauriello shares insights from her work helping medical providers integrate lifestyle medicine into their practices, and discusses how community environments can support healthier living.
Episode Highlights
- How medical providers can effectively incorporate lifestyle medicine
- The role of beha...
In this episode, we dive deep into the evolution of applied behavioral science with Matt Wallaert, a pioneer who has spent nearly two decades bringing behavioral science from academic theory to practical application. From leading behavioral science teams at Microsoft and Clover Health to founding BeSci.io, Matt shares insights on creating scalable impact and nurturing the next generation of behavioral scientists.
...
In this episode, we explore the complexities of personal growth and career development with Connor Joyce, a Senior User Researcher at Microsoft's Copilot team, the CEO of Desired Outcome Labs, the author of Bridging Intentions to Impact, and now a guest lecturer at UPenn's Master's of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program. From climbing Kilimanjaro to completing an Ironman 70.3, Connor shares candid ...
In this episode, we explore how visual storytelling can transform research practice with Maureen McLennon Welton, a Principal Experience Design Researcher who brings a unique perspective from her background in both UX design and research. From transforming complex findings into compelling visual stories to incorporating mindfulness into user research, Maureen shares insights on creating impact through thoughtful commu...
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, I sit down with Stephen Gates, founder of CRZY design studio and host of The Crazy One podcast. Stephen was my first mentor outside academia, and his advice has shaped how I approach my career, creativity, and leadership. We unpack the power of discomfort, the importance of asking the right questions, and why showing up authentically might just be the most rebellio...
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, I sit down with Dr. Eliane Boucher, a behavioral scientist and former academic who transitioned into the digital wellness space. Together, we uncover the murky waters of wellness apps, exposing the fine line between science-backed products and clever marketing. Eliane shares eye-opening examples of questionable practices, along with practical frameworks for buildin...
In this premiere episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Erica Simon shares how design thinking's "bias to action" can transform our approach to personal and professional growth. Through her work at Stanford's d.school and beyond, Dr. Simon reveals practical strategies for breaking free from perfectionism and overthinking to create environments that actually support well-being. Whether you're feeli...
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